Codeorg

These computational thinking skills are becoming more important as computers, algorithms and data become ubiquitous. Coding will also become more common, particularly with the growth in the use of visual programming languages, like Blockly, that remove the need to learn programming language syntax, and via custom blocks, can be used as an abstraction for many different applications.

Whether or not you accept that there are defined differences between the words "coding" and "programming," you should at least be aware of the differences in connotation...especially if you want to keep from hurting the feelings of your friendly neighborhood software developer!

it is precisely because we live in this modern world that this recent subject is so incredibly important; everything around us was in some sense affected by code, and yet most of us cannot even write a simple program that calculates how much gas we use in a year.

It was only two weeks ago that I had the incredible fortune to personally ask the President of the United States to kick off the Hour of Code by trying it himself. I still can't believe it actually happened.

The CEO of Code.org, Hadi Partovi, says that the Hour of Code is "a grassroots movement that includes nearly two-hundred partners," many of whom work tirelessly to bring high quality programming experiences to the public, one hour at a time.

In the eyes of most Americans, Iranian Americans are not yet known as givers or as a community that takes the lead for social change in America. That's why the Code.org initiative by twin-brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi is so different.